A powerful moment of protest in Aotearoa (New Zealand) recently captured global attention. Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, the youngest Māori MP at just 22 years old, made headlines when she performed the Haka in Parliament while tearing up a copy of the controversial Treaty Principles Bill. Her act of defiance against the bill, introduced by the ACT Party, sparked a collective Haka and became a rallying cry for the protection of Māori rights and sovereignty.
This viral moment is a reminder of the shared legacies of colonial oppression faced by Māori people and Black communities across Africa and the Caribbean. It speaks to the power of cultural pride and unity in the fight against erasure and injustice.
The Treaty of Waitangi and the Controversial Bill
The 1840 Treaty of Waitangi is a foundational document in New Zealand’s history, signed between Māori chiefs and the British Crown. Its core values were intended to protect Māori sovereignty while fostering a relationship between the two groups. However, colonial practices saw the treaty’s promises repeatedly broken, leading to widespread land theft, cultural suppression, and systemic marginalisation of Māori communities.
In recent decades, New Zealand has worked to weave the principles of the treaty into its laws as part of efforts to redress historical wrongs. The Treaty Principles Bill, introduced by the ACT Party, argues for a legal definition of these principles. While some view this as necessary for clarity, critics, including Maipi-Clarke, argue the bill undermines Māori sovereignty and dilutes the treaty’s original intent.
Her protest symbolised the deep mistrust many Indigenous people feel when governments attempt to reinterpret or redefine agreements designed to protect their rights.
Who Are the Māori People and What Is the Haka?
The Māori are the Indigenous people of Aotearoa with a culture that is deeply connected to the land, community, and Te Reo Māori (Māori language). Colonisation significantly disrupted their way of life, leading to ongoing battles for land rights, cultural preservation, and self-determination.
The Haka is a ceremonial dance that embodies unity, strength, and defiance. Traditionally performed by warriors before battle, it has since become a symbol of Māori identity, used to mark significant occasions and to resist oppression. For Māori people, the Haka is not merely a performance—it is a declaration of sovereignty, a connection to their ancestors, and an expression of collective power.
Shared Struggles: How This Relates to the Black Diaspora
The Māori struggle resonates deeply with Black communities across Africa and the Caribbean. Colonisation left an indelible mark on both groups, resulting in:
• The transatlantic slave trade, which stole millions from their homelands.
• The exploitation of land and natural resources.
• Genocide, cultural erasure, and systemic racism that persists today.
Like the Māori, Black communities have fought to reclaim their histories, preserve their cultural traditions, and resist the systems that continue to marginalise them.
How does the Māori struggle inspire movements for justice within Black communities?
Cultural Resistance: A Global Legacy
The Haka is part of a broader history of resistance through cultural pride:
• The Bois Caïman Ceremony (Haiti): A spiritual gathering in 1791 united enslaved Africans, sparking the Haitian Revolution and establishing Haiti as the first free Black republic.
• The Battle of Adwa (Ethiopia): Ethiopian war chants rallied unity and courage, enabling a decisive victory over Italian colonial forces in 1896, a symbol of African resistance to colonisation.
• South African Anti-Apartheid Chants: During the anti-apartheid movement, the rallying cry “Amandla! Awethu!” (“Power! To the People!”) united voices in defiance of systemic oppression.
Each of these moments shows how cultural pride can inspire unity, defiance, and liberation.
The Power of Solidarity
Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke’s protest and the viral Haka serve as a powerful reminder of the strength found in unity. Across the world, from Māori communities to the African diaspora, marginalised groups have turned to their cultures to resist injustice, reclaim their rights, and honour their ancestors.
This moment speaks to a universal truth: cultural pride is more than a celebration—it is a weapon against erasure and a call to action for justice.
Reclaiming Heritage, Reclaiming Power
The Māori and Black diaspora share histories of resilience in the face of colonial oppression. Their struggles remind us of the importance of preserving cultural heritage, building unity, and standing firm in the fight for justice.
The Haka, like the chants of “Amandla! Awethu!” and the spiritual power of the Bois Caïman ceremony, reminds us that resistance begins with reclaiming who we are. Together, we can honour our past, inspire the present, and build a future rooted in equity and pride.
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